By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – A pro-democracy MP in Tonga says the Cabinet has rejected proposals put forward by a couple commissions set up to determine electoral boundaries. The Cabinet is opting instead to have 17 constituencies with an equal number of votes. Concern has risen over the Cabinet’s decision, and there is fear that more violence may ensue.

There has been much debate in Tonga for democratic reform. Mateni Tapueluelu says the priority for parliament right now is the recommendations for greater democracy compiled by the Constitutional and Electoral Commission.

He stated: “[I]t was brought up in parliament by the People’s Representatives…they already have information from the government that the Cabinet is not accepting the recommendation from that commission…they are forming up their own recommendation and so there is a bit of a fight between People’s Representatives about how Tonga will have to be subdivided before the election in November.”

However, the government rejected the recommendations put forward by the Constitutional and Electoral Commission.

The government then set up the Boundaries Commission after rejecting the reforms proposed by the Constitutional and Electoral Commission. The Boundaries Commission put forth three options, but the Cabinet also rejected these.

Akilisi Pohiva of the People’s Committee for Political Reform reported that the Cabinet rejected all three options put forward by the Boundaries Commission because the Cabinet instead has opted to have 17 constituencies with a roughly equal number of votes.

Pohiva stated: “Take for example Niua, under the government proposal it will have no representative. Niua will be one of the constituencies in Tongatapu. A group of islands in Ha’apai will move to Tongatapu. In order for government to be able to have an equal share or almost an equal number of notes, this is how they do it.”

Pohiva further reported that the parliament will be debating the Cabinet’s proposal on April 8, 2010. He expects that the Cabinet’s proposal will go through.

However, he fears that if the proposal does go through, more violence will ensue. He stated: “It’ll edge the Kingdom towards further violence.”

“That complete neglect of the boundary commission is the latest serious mistake they have made. And this is what we hope to raise in the House when we come back in the afternoon and probably next week. We will try to pressure the government to honor and respect the recommendations made by the Boundary Commission and if they continue to remain stubborn something can happen, that’s how I look at it.”

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Cabinet decision could spark more violence in Tonga, says MP – 08 April 2010

Pacific Islands News Association – Cabinet decision could spark more violence in Tonga, says MP – 08 April 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Cabinet decision could spark more violence in Tonga, says MP – 08 April 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Tonga Cabinet rejects recommendations from boundary commission – 08 April 2010

Radio new Zealand International – Democratic reform debate sidelines Ashika report in Tonga – 07 April 2010